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Sports Betting Futures Odds: NFL Draft Looms on Next Week's Horizon


by - 4/17/2018

Sam Darnold USC Trojans

The NBA and NHL playoffs are well underway, and Major League Baseball is picking up steam, but the fourth major American sport will soon share the spotlight. Will it be Sam Darnold or Josh Allen to Cleveland when the NFL Draft takes center stage next week? Who will be the first receiver off the board? Calvin Ridley? D.J. Moore? Someone else? We're about to find out.

Odds provided by BetOnline Sportsbook unless otherwise indicated.

NFL Draft No. 1 pick

Sam Darnold (-200) - The Browns have apparently been going back and forth, perhaps at one point leading toward running back Saquon Barkley but now focused on a quarterback. Darnold (4,143 yards, 26 TDs, 13 INTs in 2017) did not throw at the combine in February, but his pro day at USC in late March was productive.

Josh Allen (+125) - Playing at Wyoming, Allen was not as big of a name in college as, say, Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and Josh Rosen. But he will be a big name later this month at the draft and likely during his NFL career, as well. At 6'5'' and 233 pounds plus incredible arm strength, Allen has all the tools to succeed at the next level.

Saquon Barkley (+600) - Barkley was +1000 at the beginning of February, up to the second favorite behind Darnold going into the combine, and has now settled in as the third choice south of Darnold and Allen. The former Penn State standout is generally considered to be the best prospect on the board, but Cleveland really needs a QB.

Josh Rosen (+800) - In two full seasons at UCLA (not including one shortened one), Rosen tossed 49 total touchdowns compared to 21 interceptions. The 6'4'', 218-pounder has the physical frame that pro scouts like, but there are some character concerns regarding motivation-or lack thereof. Baker Mayfield is a +1800 fifth choice.

First receiver selected

Calvin Ridley (-220) - Ridley certainly made the most of three seasons at Alabama before leaving early. He made at least 63 receptions, amassed at least 769 yards, and caught at least five touchdowns in each of the three years. Ridley is just 6'1'' and 190 pounds, but his speed is electrifying. Arizona at No. 15 is a possibility.

D.J. Moore (+160) - Moore is even smaller than Ridley (5'11''), but he weighs in at 215 pounds and can either avoid tackles with his speed or break them with his physical play. Flying under the radar just a bit at Maryland, Moore enjoyed a breakout 2017 campaign with 80 catches for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns.

Courtland Sutton (+300) - Having been redshirted early in his career at SMU, Sutton could have left after his sophomore season-and almost did. Instead, he returned in 2017 and treated the Mustangs to 68 receptions for 1,085 yards and 12 touchdowns (plus another TD on the ground). Sutton (6'4'', 216 pounds) is a red-zone threat.

James Washington (+1000) - In each of Washington's last three seasons at Oklahoma State, he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and hauled in double-digit touchdowns. The 6'1'', 205-pounder was especially dominant as a senior, going for 1,549 yards and 13 touchdowns on 74 receptions. Texas A&M's Christian Kirk is a +1200 fifth choice.

NBA playoffs series

Cavaliers (-240) over Pacers - The Cavaliers' first-round opener was an unmitigated disaster, and that is not always the case. In fact, it had never been the case. For the first time in his career (previously 12-0), LeBron James lost Game 1 of a first-round series when Cleveland got blown out 98-80 at home by Indiana on Sunday.

Celtics (-195) over Bucks - A much more entertaining contest this past weekend saw Boston edge visiting Milwaukee 113-107 in overtime. Regulation ended in wild fashion, with a trio of three-pointers sunk in the final 12 seconds. It's safe to assume that a depleted Celtics squad (Kyrie Irving is out) will have its hands full the whole way.

Thunder (-225) over Jazz - In a crowded Western Conference from seeds three through eight (and really nine, as Denver just barely missed the playoffs), OKC and Utah finished with identical 48-34 records. The Thunder earned home-court advantage via a tiebreaker and benefited from it to the tune of a 116-108 victory in Game 1.

Pelicans (-115) over Trail Blazers - Only two teams in the eight series lost Game 1 at home-Cleveland and Portland. Behind Anthony Davis (35 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks), sixth-seeded New Orleans picked up a 97-95 win last Saturday night. Still, the Pelicans are without DeMarcus Cousins, and Portland is an experienced bunch.

National League Central ( Bovada Sportsbook )

Chicago Cubs (-165) - The NL Central is almost always one of the more entertaining divisions in the business with the Cubs and Cardinals in the mix. This year, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh could also make noise. The Cubs are two-time defending division champions and, of course, they parlayed their 2016 crown into a world championship.

St. Louis Cardinals (+350) - Chicago is off to a mediocre 7-7 start and St. Louis is not much better at a decent 9-7. It was the Cubs who won the Yu Darvish sweepstakes, but it is the Cardinals who have allowed the third fewest runs in the National League (56). Luke Weaver is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, while Carlos Martinez is sporting a 1.75 ERA.


Milwaukee Brewers (+400) - No team other than Chicago or St. Louis has won this division since 2012 (Cincinnati, after which the Cardinals captured it three straight times prior to the Cubs' current two-year run). The Brewers, who last triumphed in 2011, are hovering near .500 at 8-9 so far-but their run differential (minus-19) is alarming.

Pittsburgh Pirates (+900) - The Pirates have failed to win this division a single time since its inception in 1994. Although that drought is expected to continue, if nothing else Pittsburgh is off to a stellar start at 11-5 and at least two games clear of everyone else in the Central. With Andrew McCutchen gone, the bats must continue to excel.

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